A review of previous studies published in the journal Animal Cognition found that chickens, like humans, exhibit Machiavellian tendencies and display self-awareness and even numerical abilities.

Lori Marino, a lecturer in neuroscience at Emory University and the author of the review, concluded that “chickens are behaviorally sophisticated, discriminating among individuals, exhibiting Machiavellian-like social interactions, and learning socially in complex ways that are similar to humans.”

For example, chickens showed self-control by holding out for a better food reward. Meanwhile, male birds schemed by making “loud and . . . distinctive” food calls when they discovered something edible to also attract females. Hens also displayed emotional responses to different sounds that exhibited their ability to anticipate future events.

Furthermore, chickens are aware of their place in the pecking order. A 1996 study found that birds did not challenge dominant chickens when confronted.

“Chickens have complex negative and positive emotions, as well as a shared psychology with humans and other ethologically complex animals,” Marino wrote. “They exhibit emotional contagion and some evidence for empathy.”